I had heard that Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) and his wife were living off food stamps this week to bring attention to how little the $3-a-day average stipend actually buys recipients. The McGoverns, along with US Representatives Tim Ryan (D-OH), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) are each limiting themselves to $21 in groceries as part of a "Food Stamp Challenge" to raise awareness of hunger.
What I didn't know is that Rep. McGovern is also blogging his experience. The intersection of his life as a Washington politician and his self-imposed food budget lead to some pretty amusing situations. For example, here is how he describes a banquet he attended last night:
I was extremely hungry. The hors d'oeuvres looked terrific -- so did the red wine. I settled for a glass of tap water.I think it's great that McGovern is doing this, and I'm a little disappointed that only three other members of Congress joined in. Congressman Ryan is also blogging his experience.
Thankfully, my wife, Lisa, arrived at the beginning of the dinner with an egg and cheese sandwich on a tortilla. I ate it in 3 seconds (people looked at me as if I were crazy).
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This morning I attended a fundraiser in my honor at Bistro Bis restaurant at the Hotel George. I brought a banana for breakfast. Others were served eggs, bacon, potatoes, sweet rolls, butter, jam and great smelling coffee. I had water with my banana. I would have killed for one slice of bacon (too many people watching).
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